Insulator connecter



N. A. WA'HLBERG msuLA'roR CONNECTER Filed Aug. 12. 1922 ,wnNEssE I I I INVENTOR 7 e 7 ATTORNEY v Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

inns-A. WAHLBERG, OEWILKINSBURG, rnnnsrnvamn, nssrenon TO wnsrmc- HOUSE ELECTRIC & mnnurnc'runme COMPANY, A q RroRArIoN or PENNSYL- VANIA,

INSULATOR CONNEGTEB.

Application flled'August 12 1922. Serial No. {81,312.

My invention relates to connecting means and particularly to connecting means for suspension insulators.

One object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-indicated character that shall be simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and effective in its operation.

Another object of my invention is to pro- 1 vide a metallic envelope or cover for an insulator connecter that shall compensate for electrostatic-field-disturbing factors caused by the form of the mechanical connecting arts. p A further object of my invention is to provide a connecter that shall greatly facilitate the operations of connecting, disconnecting and replacing the units of seriesstring suspension insulators.

Heretofore, many devices such as arcing rings, arcing horns and field-distributing members have been employed to improve the operation of high-potential insulators.

irregularly shaped parts disposed in the electrostatic field at positions of high-potential gradient tendto concentrate the field and to cause failure .at voltages below that which the insulator might otherwise withstand.

Parts having important mechanical functions are frequently disturbing elements because it is not always feasible to construct them for mechanical etficiency and, at the same time, to have them of symmetrical con- 85 tours relative to the electrostatic field.

It is my aim to provide a connecter that shall be satisfactory from a mechanical standpoint and that shall otter no considerable disturbing influence in the electrostatic field of an insulator- 1 In practicing my invention, 1' provide a connecter that shall permit the mechanical considerations to be taken care of in a simple and efiective manner and that shall cause g no undue disturbing influence in the electrostatic field. In other words, the connecter may be variously constructed in accordance with the exact mechanicalrequirements as to strength and size and, at the same time,

59 be shaped to uniformly distribute the electrostatic field.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a seriesstring suspension insulator employing the connecter of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of a. member of the connecter, and

Fig. 3 is aside elevational view of the member shown in Fig.2.

A series-string suspension insulator of one type, with which the connecter of my invention may be employed, may comprise a plurality of insulating members 1, of well-' known construction, having recessed head portions 2 for the reception thereover of metal cap members 3 and for the reception therein of pin members 4.

The cap members 3 and the pin members 4 are provided with clevis'portions 5 and eyeportions 6, respectively, for the reception of a pin 7.

Under ordinary conditions, the eye-and- [I clevis structure, while very satisfactory from a mechanlcal 'standpolnt, ofi'ers considerable disturbance to the electrostatic field between the members 1 by reason of the'relatively sharp edges of the parts and the projecting portions thereof. The field concentrates on theseedges and projections and causes breakdoiwn or flash-over at relatively low-voltage va ues.

To permit the use of an eye-and-clevis structure of any desired mechanical strength,

I provide a cap or cup member 8, preferably age the ends of the member 7 to thereby holdboth the pin '1 and the member 8 in position.

In assembling the units, the member is placed in position over the end of the pin 4 and moved inwardly therealong to permit the eye-and-clevis portions and the pin 7 to beplaced imposition. The member 8 is then withdrawn along the pin 4 to the position shown'inthe drawin s.

" In addition to uniformly 'stributing electrostatic field stresses adjacent to the eyeand-clevis connecter, the member 8 obviates the necessity of a cotter pin or other small unhandy parts for holding the pin in place and facilitates the manipulation of the insulator parts to a high degree. i

While I have shown and described a particular form of my invention, changes may be effected therein without departing from.

members and is permitted longitudinal movement relative thereto.

2. The combination with an insulator having a connecter portion, a cooperating member having a shank portion and a portion for connection to said first connecter portion and an element for holding said portions together, of an electrostatic-stressdistributing member of substantially cupshape for surrounding the adjacent connecter portions and said element for holding the same together and having an opening in its bottom wallby whieh it surrounds said shank and is permitted longitudinal movement thereon, the side and end walls of said cup being joined by a portion of rounded contour.

3. The combination with an insulator of the cap-and-pin type having a connecter portion on the cap, a cooperating member embodying a shank and a portion for connection to said cap-connecter portion and an element for holding said Portions together, of an electrostatic-stress-distributin member of substantially cup-shape movably mounted on said shank and normally adapted to rest in position over said connecter portions and said element to hold the same together, the open-end perimeter of said cup being shaped to fit against the in sulator cap.

4. In a suspension-insulator device, the combination with cap-and-pin terminal members, eye and clevis elements, one of which constitutes a portion of a cap and another of which constitutes a portion of a pin of said device, and a connecter pin for said elements, of means for preventing the concentration of electrostatic stresses on said elements and connecter pin and holding the same together comprising a metal member of substantially cup-shape having an opening in its end wall for mounting the same around said terminal pin in longitudinally movable relation thereto, said cup member having a rounded perimeter between its side and end walls and being for operative positioning over said eye and clevis portions with its open end closely fitting a portion of said cap terminal member.

5. In a suspension-insulator device, the combination with cap-and-pin' terminal members, eye and clevis elements, one of which constltutes a portion of a cap and another of which constitutes a portion of a pin of said device, and a connecter pin for said elements, of means for preventing the concentration of electrostatic stresses on said elements and connecter pin and holding the same together comprising a metal member of substantially cup-shape having an opening in its end wall for mounting the same around said terminal pin in longitudinally movable relation thereto and inner-side-wall portions for engagement with the ends of said connecter pin, said cup member having a rounded perimeter between its side and end walls and being for operative positioning over said eye and clevis portions with its open end closely fitting a portion of said cap terminal member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of August 1922.

NILS A. WAHLBERG. 

